CANBERRA will learn today whether Josh Dugan will be fit enough to make his much-awaited return from injury against their 2010 semi-finals conquerors Wests Tigers after he completed a full training session last night.

The exciting fullback has not played since suffering a calf injury in the Raiders' final trial against Canterbury and was not named in David Furner's side to play the Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday.

However, Dugan trained for the duration of last night's session in the national capital in the fullback spot and would come in as a late replacement for David Milne if deemed to be over the nagging injury.
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''It will all depend on how he pulls up tomorrow,'' a Raiders official said last night. ''We'll assess him again then. He did the same thing last week - he trained and then couldn't play. He just didn't pull up right. He wasn't named because he was in so much doubt.''

While Dugan's inclusion would be a welcome boost for the Raiders' road trip, they remain in danger of losing centre Jarrod Croker, who is struggling with a cork in his leg.

Croker did not train with the full squad last night, running instead with the team's rehabilitation officer. Instead, Reece Robinson and James Stuart spent time training at centre and would be likely replacements if Croker is ruled out of a chance at redemption against the Tigers.

A shattered Croker last September missed a late penalty goal that would have squared up the Raiders' qualifying final against the Tigers, who subsequently eliminated Canberra from the play-offs.

Meanwhile, St George Illawarra are confident they can have NSW prop Michael Weyman back on the field in a month after their worst fears were allayed yesterday. Weyman aggravated a groin injury in Monday's 16-10 loss to Cronulla, which left club medical staff worried that he could be out for the season if he required surgery.

Scans yesterday revealed only a ''slight tear'' that would rule him out for between four and six weeks.

The 26-year-old was relieved to avoid going under the knife again, having had surgery on groin and hip conditions related to the degenerative osteitis pubis condition during the off-season.

Weyman had struggled to gain the metres or game time on the field during the second half of the 2010 season but played through the pain to take part in the club's grand final triumph. He will be replaced by recruit David Gower for the Dragons' visit to Auckland to play the Warriors on Sunday.

''There's no replacing Mick Weyman,'' Gower said. ''He's a class act. As far as the team goes, I hope he's not on the sidelines for too long because he's a quality player and I'll just be trying to keep his jersey warm.''

The Dragons will also be without Beau Scott on Sunday after he entered an early guilty plea and accepted a one-match ban for a dangerous contact charge involving Sharks centre Ben Pomeroy.

Newcastle captain Kurt Gidley yesterday all but ruled himself out of playing against Manly at Brookvale Oval on Sunday, saying he was still battling a back injury.

CANBERRA will learn today whether Josh Dugan will be fit enough to make his much-awaited return from injury against their 2010 semi-finals conquerors Wests Tigers after he completed a full training session last night.

The exciting fullback has not played since suffering a calf injury in the Raiders' final trial against Canterbury and was not named in David Furner's side to play the Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium on Saturday.

However, Dugan trained for the duration of last night's session in the national capital in the fullback spot and would come in as a late replacement for David Milne if deemed to be over the nagging injury.
Advertisement: Story continues below

''It will all depend on how he pulls up tomorrow,'' a Raiders official said last night. ''We'll assess him again then. He did the same thing last week - he trained and then couldn't play. He just didn't pull up right. He wasn't named because he was in so much doubt.''

While Dugan's inclusion would be a welcome boost for the Raiders' road trip, they remain in danger of losing centre Jarrod Croker, who is struggling with a cork in his leg.

Croker did not train with the full squad last night, running instead with the team's rehabilitation officer. Instead, Reece Robinson and James Stuart spent time training at centre and would be likely replacements if Croker is ruled out of a chance at redemption against the Tigers.

A shattered Croker last September missed a late penalty goal that would have squared up the Raiders' qualifying final against the Tigers, who subsequently eliminated Canberra from the play-offs.

Meanwhile, St George Illawarra are confident they can have NSW prop Michael Weyman back on the field in a month after their worst fears were allayed yesterday. Weyman aggravated a groin injury in Monday's 16-10 loss to Cronulla, which left club medical staff worried that he could be out for the season if he required surgery.

Scans yesterday revealed only a ''slight tear'' that would rule him out for between four and six weeks.

The 26-year-old was relieved to avoid going under the knife again, having had surgery on groin and hip conditions related to the degenerative osteitis pubis condition during the off-season.

Weyman had struggled to gain the metres or game time on the field during the second half of the 2010 season but played through the pain to take part in the club's grand final triumph. He will be replaced by recruit David Gower for the Dragons' visit to Auckland to play the Warriors on Sunday.

''There's no replacing Mick Weyman,'' Gower said. ''He's a class act. As far as the team goes, I hope he's not on the sidelines for too long because he's a quality player and I'll just be trying to keep his jersey warm.''

The Dragons will also be without Beau Scott on Sunday after he entered an early guilty plea and accepted a one-match ban for a dangerous contact charge involving Sharks centre Ben Pomeroy.

Newcastle captain Kurt Gidley yesterday all but ruled himself out of playing against Manly at Brookvale Oval on Sunday, saying he was still battling a back injury.

I know this thread is about Dugan But was interesting to read about Weyman Sounds like he has groin injuries particularly with his running style he could really struggle to make it back I thought he was a big chance for Origin Opens a huge door for Gower

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens says he is preparing as if Canberra ace Josh Dugan will not play on Saturday night - but concedes he will have to alter his strategy should the dynamic full-back be rushed back.

Dugan has not played since injuring his calf in last month's All-Stars clash on the Gold Coast, and was not named in the Raiders side to face the Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium.

But the 20-year-old is believed to be some chance of playing, with a training session in Sydney on Friday afternoon likely to determine his fate.

Sheens said the Tigers would plan for David Milne to run out in the number one jumper.

"We'll obviously have to make some compensation there, a late minute game plan if we find (Dugan's) going to play, but the chances are that won't happen till an hour before the game," Sheens said before training on Friday morning.

"All we can do at the moment is prepare for the team that's been announced - but in the back of our minds, if he does play we'll have a different strategy.

"You don't want to give him kicks in good field position, you certainly don't want to kick to him - at least make him work, particularly if he's been injured.

"But at the moment I'm not planning for him to play."

A decision on the availability of Raiders centre Jarrod Croker (thigh) is also not expected until Saturday.

Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens says he is preparing as if Canberra ace Josh Dugan will not play on Saturday night - but concedes he will have to alter his strategy should the dynamic full-back be rushed back.

Dugan has not played since injuring his calf in last month's All-Stars clash on the Gold Coast, and was not named in the Raiders side to face the Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium.

But the 20-year-old is believed to be some chance of playing, with a training session in Sydney on Friday afternoon likely to determine his fate.

Sheens said the Tigers would plan for David Milne to run out in the number one jumper.

"We'll obviously have to make some compensation there, a late minute game plan if we find (Dugan's) going to play, but the chances are that won't happen till an hour before the game," Sheens said before training on Friday morning.

"All we can do at the moment is prepare for the team that's been announced - but in the back of our minds, if he does play we'll have a different strategy.

"You don't want to give him kicks in good field position, you certainly don't want to kick to him - at least make him work, particularly if he's been injured.

"But at the moment I'm not planning for him to play."

A decision on the availability of Raiders centre Jarrod Croker (thigh) is also not expected until Saturday.